Messerschmitt

Me 309

Me 409

Me 509

Me 609

Me 309V3

The Messerschmitt Me 309 was proposed as an advanced replacement for
the venerable Bf 109 fighter. Its design features included tricycle landing gear,
retractable radiators and coolers and a pressurized cockpit. These concepts were first
tested on four modified Bf 109F prototypes, the Bf 109V24, V30, V30A and V31. Nine
prototypes were planned, with the first, the Me 309V1, being rolled-out in June of 1942.
However, during taxiing trials, wobble problems were experienced with the nose gear
(which had been utilized instead of a conventional "tail-dragger" layout in hopes of
preventing this very problem). After trying several different tail configurations
(sources vary between two and five), the V1 took to the air, but more problems arose with
the cooling system, resulting in a brief flight of only seven minutes duration. Three
additional protoypes were built, but so many accidents (mostly involving the troublesome
landing gear) occurred that parts meant for the remaining prototypes were needed to keep
the existing aircraft flyable.

Messerschmitt proposed several production versions. The Me 309A was
the proposed production fighter version; a dive-bomber variant, the Me 309B, was also
proposed. Further devolopments included the Me 409 (either an enlarged version of the
Me 309 or a twin-fuselage variant with Me 209 fuselages and Me 155 wings), the Me 509
with the powerplant in the fuselage behind the cockpit, and the Me 609, another
twin-fuselage version based on the Me 309 and intended as a Zerstörer and
Schnellbomber (heavy fighter and high-speed bomber). None of these variants were
built, however. There had never been much offical interest in the Me 309, mostly because
it would have drained resources from existing production aircraft. This was heightened
by the trouble-plagued Me 309 prototypes, and also by the fact that the Me 309 was only
marginally faster then the Bf 109G, and maneouverability and stability were actually
poorer. The Me 309 prototypes were then used as armament, ejection seat and
pressurization testbeds for the Me 262 jet fighter program. Sources do not reveal the
ultimate fate of the Me 309 prototypes.